Parks and open spaces
Due to considerable heavy rainfall in recent weeks, the ground conditions in our parks are very wet at present. Pathways may be flooded and some areas of the country parks and nature reserves are currently inaccessible. When using our parks, please stay on the main hard-surfaced pathways wherever possible, and do take care if you need to walk on any grass, as the ground could be very slippery.
The council understands that the borough’s parks are vitally important for both physical and mental wellbeing, so our green spaces continue to remain open.
You can continue to meet outdoors either in a group of 6 (from any number of households), or in a group of any size from up to 2 households (including support bubbles).
Please continue to socially distance from those outside of your household/support bubble (by staying 2m apart or at least 1m with mitigations such as wearing a face covering) and follow government guidance on ‘How to stop the spread of coronavirus'.
Park facilities and services
The council is closely monitoring government advice on COVID-19 and are following the advice of Public Health England. We’re taking all appropriate measures to keep residents safe and healthy during this difficult time.
If you do go outdoors, please remember to follow the government’s advice on social distancing and follow these simple rules to prevent the disease from spreading:
- do not visit a park if you have any symptoms (fever, coughs, shortness of breath)
- if the park is crowded do not enter if you cannot safely observe social distancing
- consider if you can visit your park at different times (later/earlier) to allow use by parents, children and older people during the day
- stay 2 metres (6 feet) apart from each other
- you can exercise outdoors (i.e. informal activities) in a group of 6 or a larger group of any size from up to 2 households/support bubble.
- you can take part in formally organised outdoor sports or licensed physical activity with any number of people, where this is organised by a business, charity or public body. The organiser must take the required precautions, including the completion of a risk assessment. Contact in training should be avoided and, for some sports, contact should avoided in all activities.
- we strongly encourage users, parents, guardians and carers of playground areas to use hand sanitiser when using the facilities
- keep your dog(s) under proper control at all times and ideally on a lead
- follow Public Health England (PHE) and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advice on hand washing and washing your hands when you get home
Latest changes to our park services and facilities
Park opening times and gate locking
Our parks will continue to be locked after hours. Please vacate parks before sunset and ensure that vehicles are removed from park car parks before the gates are locked.
Park car parks
Park car parks will remain open.
Visitor centres - Barking Park and ECP Discovery Centre
Remain closed to the public until further notice.
Cafes - Barking Park and ECP Discovery Centre
Barking Park café is now providing a take-away service.
The Discovery Centre café remains closed. However, we hope to resume a take-away service in the near future. For updates, please call 0208 227 2332 or email Rangers@lbbd.gov.uk.
Public toilets in parks
Urban parks: public toilets will be open from the 16 April.
Eastbrookend Country Park (Discovery Centre): public toilets will be open from 26 April.
Boating and Pedalos
The boating facility is open for the 2021 season. Full details on the Boathouse website.
Allotments
Allotment sites remain open.
Angling
Fishing is permitted providing Government and Angling Trust guidelines are followed.
You can find more information on the Angling Trust website.
Splash Park
Splash Park will reopen as soon as Government rules permit and it is safe to do so.
See full details on the Splash Park website.
Playgrounds
Playgrounds are open.
Outdoor gyms
Outdoor gyms are open.
Games courts, multi-use areas, basketball, tennis and skate parks
Facilities are open.
Sports pitches
You can take part in formally organised outdoor sports or licensed physical activity with any number of people, where this is organised by a business, charity or public body. The organiser must take the required precautions, including the completion of a risk assessment.
Ranger Service environmental education and outreach programme (including school bookings)
All sessions, events and activities delivered by the Ranger Service and our partners have been suspended/cancelled until further notice. For updates call 0208 227 2332 or email Rangers@lbbd.gov.uk.
Volunteer sessions and activities
For updates on volunteer sessions and Ranger activities call 0208 227 2332 or email: Rangers@lbbd.gov.uk.
Events (including small events, fun fairs, Summer of Festivals programme)
Events are not permitted under the current government guidelines, however, events are expected to take place after 21 June subject to Covid-19 restrictions and government guidelines.
Please keep up to date on Summer of Festivals events and the plans for the Becontree Forever programme.
Event applications and park hire will be considered in line with government guidelines after the 21 June, subject to the usual Council safety requirements, and a Covid-19 risk assessment will be required.
Further information and advice
For updates on parks and related information call 0208 227 2332 or email: Rangers@lbbd.gov.uk.
Please check our main coronavirus page for advice and daily updates and also on our Twitter and Facebook.